6 ms·

I'd consider using a product like this and I don't give a shit about draconian politics. The issue is that remote work has downsides. One downside is dramatical

I'd consider using a product like this and I don't give a shit about draconian politics. The issue is that remote work has downsides. One downside is dramatically less collaboration. I like collaborating with team-mates, not just drudging away by myself. If this could help create more of a spontaneous back and forth in-person feel, that could be valuable. I don't know how it would feel, I'd have to try it and see. But I think you and the other people in this thread are being way too negative and defensive. Not all of us love remote work and especially not the "remote work is better in every way for everybody and anyone who thinks otherwise is a reactionary" culture.

achen187 6y ago
Thanks so much! Yes, we totally understand we're not going after all remote workers but there's a large set of people like you we want to help.
ravenstine 6y ago
I keep hearing this but it makes no sense to me. If people need to collaborate, what exactly is stopping them from doing it over video? On my team we collaborate all the time remotely.
- achen187 6y ago
  From our experience, the best collaboration doesn't happen during planned meetings. It happens during spontaneous conversations and that's what we're trying to bring back.
  - ravenstine 6y ago
    I kind of get that, but none of the remote collaboration I experience is done through planned meetings. It happens during conversations we have spontaneously. It's just those conversations happen over Slack and then over video call. This isn't to say that I disbelieve your experience, but it still baffles me there are remote teams out there that fail to collaborate at a sufficient level with tools that already exist. I hope Sidekick succeeds to a level that doesn't one day turn my home office into a remote version of Office Space.
    - hackinthebochs 6y ago
      The difference is when someone starts a call or an IM, its usually about something specific and so the expectation is that the conversation lasts just as long as it takes to resolve the specific issue. Spontaneity of conversation requires a culture of interaction without a specific aim. In an environment where you want to maximize such spontaneous connections, calls or IMs can't compare to always-on.
- senojretep356 6y ago
  Yep, feels like they've fallen over on the whole 'define a problem' thing. Have they got any actual clients or just a bunch of fellow cohort YC companies all clapping each other on the back.
ryanSrich 6y ago
> One downside is dramatically less collaboration. This is simply an excuse for why remote doesn't work. It's a dead horse. If you find yourself collaborating less as a result of remote work, then I question your remote setup and culture. > If this could help create more of a spontaneous back and forth in-person feel. I actually feel less shitty by spontaneously reaching out to my colleagues via Slack or by phone when remote than I do tapping on their shoulder in an office. > But I think you and the other people in this thread are being way too negative and defensive. I wouldn't say my comment was that negative. This device is a threat to the upside of remote working, so it should be met with criticism. That doesn't mean I wish them any ill will. My biggest issue with something like this is that a device is now required for remote work and you must sit at your computer from 9am to 5pm. That's why a lot of people hate working from an office, so to recreate that at home would be a nightmare.
- achen187 6y ago
  Thanks for the feedback, we're still really early so this datapoint is really helpful. Sidekick works really well for teams that need to be always communicating real-time. This isn't all remote teams, but the subset that needs this is underserved and we're trying to help with Sidekick.
  - ponker 6y ago
    You're being very polite to people who are being very rude. This gives me confidence in using you as a vendor and helps your brand immensely.
- wherewillitlead 6y ago
  > My biggest issue with something like this is that a device is now required for remote work and you must sit at your computer from 9am to 5pm. You've completely made that up.
  - ryanSrich 6y ago
    My phrasing may have not made this clear. It's my concern that this __might__ happen. Not that it's already happening, though I wouldn't be surprised if new remote orgs aren't already using some online status check to surveil their employees.
vangelis 6y ago
I haven't had that experience, but working over IM/IRC is a mode I'm used to.

achen187 6y ago

Thanks so much! Yes, we totally understand we're not going after all remote workers but there's a large set of people like you we want to help.

ravenstine 6y ago

I keep hearing this but it makes no sense to me. If people need to collaborate, what exactly is stopping them from doing it over video? On my team we collaborate all the time remotely.

achen187 6y ago
From our experience, the best collaboration doesn't happen during planned meetings. It happens during spontaneous conversations and that's what we're trying to bring back.
- ravenstine 6y ago
  I kind of get that, but none of the remote collaboration I experience is done through planned meetings. It happens during conversations we have spontaneously. It's just those conversations happen over Slack and then over video call. This isn't to say that I disbelieve your experience, but it still baffles me there are remote teams out there that fail to collaborate at a sufficient level with tools that already exist. I hope Sidekick succeeds to a level that doesn't one day turn my home office into a remote version of Office Space.
  - hackinthebochs 6y ago
    The difference is when someone starts a call or an IM, its usually about something specific and so the expectation is that the conversation lasts just as long as it takes to resolve the specific issue. Spontaneity of conversation requires a culture of interaction without a specific aim. In an environment where you want to maximize such spontaneous connections, calls or IMs can't compare to always-on.
senojretep356 6y ago
Yep, feels like they've fallen over on the whole 'define a problem' thing. Have they got any actual clients or just a bunch of fellow cohort YC companies all clapping each other on the back.

ryanSrich 6y ago

> One downside is dramatically less collaboration. This is simply an excuse for why remote doesn't work. It's a dead horse. If you find yourself collaborating less as a result of remote work, then I question your remote setup and culture. > If this could help create more of a spontaneous back and forth in-person feel. I actually feel less shitty by spontaneously reaching out to my colleagues via Slack or by phone when remote than I do tapping on their shoulder in an office. > But I think you and the other people in this thread are being way too negative and defensive. I wouldn't say my comment was that negative. This device is a threat to the upside of remote working, so it should be met with criticism. That doesn't mean I wish them any ill will. My biggest issue with something like this is that a device is now required for remote work and you must sit at your computer from 9am to 5pm. That's why a lot of people hate working from an office, so to recreate that at home would be a nightmare.

achen187 6y ago
Thanks for the feedback, we're still really early so this datapoint is really helpful. Sidekick works really well for teams that need to be always communicating real-time. This isn't all remote teams, but the subset that needs this is underserved and we're trying to help with Sidekick.
- ponker 6y ago
  You're being very polite to people who are being very rude. This gives me confidence in using you as a vendor and helps your brand immensely.
wherewillitlead 6y ago
> My biggest issue with something like this is that a device is now required for remote work and you must sit at your computer from 9am to 5pm. You've completely made that up.
- ryanSrich 6y ago
  My phrasing may have not made this clear. It's my concern that this __might__ happen. Not that it's already happening, though I wouldn't be surprised if new remote orgs aren't already using some online status check to surveil their employees.

vangelis 6y ago

I haven't had that experience, but working over IM/IRC is a mode I'm used to.